N. Dartmouth, MA --- Third-seeded UMass Dartmouth senior Eleanor Taylor (Falmouth, MA) netted a hat-trick as she helped the Corsairs post a 4-1 triumph over #6 Worcester State in the opening round of the Little East Tournament this evening.
UMD (10-9) moves on to play second-seeded Plymouth State on Friday as the Panthers shutout #7 Western Connecticut, 5-0, earlier in the afternoon.
The Lancers (10-8) will await word of a possible ECAC Division III New England Tournament bid when the announcements of the brackets are made on Monday.
Taylor broke the scoreless tie with a penalty stroke at the 8:12 mark to put UMass Dartmouth up 1-0 early. She added her second goal of the contest 15 minutes later when she stole a ball that was right in front of the cage for her 19th marker of the season.
The Coarsairs capped off the rally in the opening period with the 3-0 lead when junior Erica Allan (Amherst, MA) netted her ninth tally of the year on a breakaway as she received a long pass from Kayla Ribsam (Lambertsville, NJ).
Taylor turned the trick 2:57 into the second half on a cross right across the circle from third-year Jenna Miedzionoski (Beverly, MA) to put UMD up 4-0.
UMass Dartmouth looked ready to score again, but the Lancers would then buckle down on defense and hold the Corsairs to just one shot for the remainder of the contest.
Senior Samantha Janda (Sterling, MA) would break the shutout with just under 20 minutes left to play on a long feed from freshman Kelli McPherson (Mansfield, MA).
The Lancers gave a tremendous effort in an attempt to get back into the game, but they were held off by the Corsair defense. McPhearson and sophomore Lindsey McGeary (Foxboro, MA) both had bids late in the game, but they were denied.
Senior Lauren Daley (Dedham, MA) and classmate Sabrina Tordoff (Bellingham, MA) each recorded defensive saves in the effort for WSU. Tordoff made a stop before the penalty corner to keep the game scoreless and then Daley's came midway through the second half to quel the momentum as it was UMD's last attempt on net in the final stanza.
Daley is now tied for the LEC lead in the category with nine this season as it was the 20th of her career.
Sophomore Lauren O'Brien (Rochester, MA) earned her first win of the season to up her record to 1-3 as she collected a trio of saves.
Junior Rebecca Mullen (Peabody, MA) and first-year Sydney Dionis (Shrewsbury, MA) split time playing a half each for the Lancers. Mullen made one stop for WSU.
With her marker tonight, Janda passed Lancer Hall of Famer Melissa Charland's single-season point record that was set in 1993 as she now has an amazing total of 38 points. With 15 goals Janda also is just one off tying the school mark.
Both squads were even in shots (8-8) while UMD led in corners, 4-2.